Patients with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of developing sexual dysfunction. This study aims to investigate the current severity of sexual dysfunction in Taiwanese patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM).

Between June 2023 and October 2024, a total of 450 patients visiting our urology outpatient department were invited to complete a questionnaire comprising the Men's Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ) and supplementary questions assessing patterns of seeking management for sexual dysfunction.

Of the 402 subjects who completed the questionnaire, 28.1% (113/402) had type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Among patients with varying degrees of sexual dysfunction, those in the DM group reported significantly greater severity across all domains of the MSHQ—erection, ejaculation, satisfaction, frequency of sexual activity, and sexual desire—compared to the non-DM group. After applying propensity score matching for age and comorbid chronic diseases, the scores in each domain were as follows (DM group vs. non-DM group): erection (9.55 vs. 10.94, p = 0.028), ejaculation (25.87 vs. 28.26, p = 0.012), sexual desire (12.38 vs. 13.34, p = 0.020), satisfaction (20.51 vs. 21.64, p = 0.112), and frequency of sexual activity (10.29 vs. 10.58, p = 0.465).

Severity of sexual dysfunction was high among diabetic patients. Routine screening for sexual dysfunction in patients with diabetes is recommended.